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Saturday, April 30, 2016

Protracted PKR-DAP squabble will benefit PAS in Sarawak polls?

KUALA LUMPUR - The bickering between PKR and DAP will help PAS win several seats in the Sarawak elections, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today.

Hadi added that PAS will be able to reap the benefits of their former coalition allies’ squabbling over seat allocations.

“Both the parties contesting in the same constituency may give PAS the benefit. It will be more positive for us.
“We are confident of winning at least two seats and maybe more in other constituencies, such as in the place where a former DAP man is now contesting as an independent against DAP,” he was quoted as saying by local news portal The Star Online.

Hadi added that PAS was confident with its chances as the people of Sarawak, both Muslims and non-Muslims, have been very accepting of the Islamist party.

“The acceptance from all was good since nomination day. It was not only the Muslims but also the non-Muslims.

“PAS also has woman and non-Muslim candidates in the 11 seats it is contesting. This is enough to send a message in Sarawak,” he said.

PAS will be contesting for 11 seats in the upcoming Sarawak state assembly elections, double from the five seats it contested in the 2011 election.

PAS went home empty handed in the 2011 Sarawak elections when it was still in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition with PKR and DAP.

The coalition was dissolved last year when DAP and PAS went head-to-head on the implementation of hudud, an Islamic penal code.

PKR and DAP are fighting each other in six seats for the May 7 polls: Batu Kitang, Simanggang, Mambong, Ngemah, Murum and Mulu.

Negotiations continued for weeks after an initial agreement on April 7 between both parties, but neither side relented, resulting in the direct clashes.